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February 2016

Last issue

After 257 issues of Our News, I am tired. But I’d like to thank all the advertisers, who have stuck with me for many years, making it possible to pay the printer. Thanks to Lone Star Printing’s low prices, I never ran out of the $100 I had to start Our News. I thank all you volunteer reporters especially Rodrigo Carreon.

I thank those who faithfully read the paper especially the ones who subscribed; without you it would have been a waste of time. Most of all I thank God who made it all possible and provided the wisdom of what not to write although I ignored Him occasionally. In the future if you email me with news or death notices I will put it on my blog: Almeda Our News.

ISIS OR ISIL

ISIS stands for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. Now they refer to themselves as ISIL because their goal is to include the Levant which is a broad strip of land from Syria to Egypt which includes Lebanon and Israel. Seems referring to them as ISIL would encourage ISIS. They are also called Da'ish, by some Arabic media and politicians. This name is used by those who are critical of ISIS.

LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL

A Little League baseball complex is being built about a mile east of Hwy. 521 off of FM 2234. From 2234 you can see about 100 light poles. Maybe not 100 but a whole bunch.

SERVING THE COMMUNITY

The First Baptist Church Fresno is opening up their facility to the Manvel Food Pantry and the Second Mile Food Pantry. Starting in February, the Manvel Food Pantry will distribute food every Tuesday, Second Mile Food Pantry distributes the 1st Saturday of the month, and Fresno Baptist will continue their regular food pantry every Wednesday. They are located at 4501 FM 521 Rd.

The church recently sold the back 5.5 acres of land to Fort Bend County. The land, adjoins the Mustang Community Center. Plans are for a soccer field and an extension of the walking trail. The most used park in Ft. Bend is Mustang.

You might give your suggestions for use of the land to your County Commissioner Richard Morrison Feb. 23 at 6:30 at the Arcola City Hall as he will be there to hear all the concerns of Pct. 1 residents.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

They say love makes the world go around. Love also keeps the world from falling apart.

If you love someone you want to spend time with them. You pay attention to every word they say and you want to know everything about them. You want them to know all about your dreams and desires, but you would lay aside your desires for the stronger desire of being close to the one you love. Is that the way you love God?

Help us God to love you with all our heart, with all our mind and strength and may your love flow through us to our neighbor.

Love in Action Sixteen Gallons

In 1974, Garnett Lewis attended Almeda Baptist Church and learned that the pastor, Gerald Cannon, was a free bleeder. Lewis responded and donated a pint of blood. His brother in Christ has died but Lewis continues to give. He has extraordinary health and giving blood doesn’t bother him. Four times a year he gave a pint until recently. Now, he gives “double red” every six months. Double red is a quart of red blood corpuscles only.

Lewis is living proof that some people can give blood at the age of 82, although others like Mae, his wife of 60 years, had to quit giving many years ago. Lewis is not trying to set some kind of record; there are some in Houston who have given more. He just sees it as a way God provided for him to help others.

Pam Cartwright, who is in charge of the blood drive at Southview Baptist Church, says one pint of blood can help save the lives of three people. She has given several galloons herself after seeing her husband’s life prolonged for four years because of the generosity of others who donated. “Nothing can take the place of blood,” she says.

A Donor Coach accepts blood every three months at Southview at 23003 Hwy. 288 south of Hwy 6. Call Pam at 713 582 3082 for details. The blood center at 9223 Broadway St. #119 in Pearland 713 436 7722 or 1400 La Concha Ln. (north of NRG stadium in Houston 713 790 1200 are other places to donate. They all test you to make sure you can give without jeopardizing your own health.

IT’S IN HIS BLOOD

James Wark got bit by an acting bug in 1985 and he is still infected. You may have seen him in the J. J. Watts Ford pick up commercials where James was sitting in a barber chair. Not a big part but that two seconds of fame resulted in a $410 check for Wark as well as a check to Pat Skiles, his agent for the past 10 years with A– Plus Agency in Houston.

HISTORY OF ARCOLA AREA : A good place to learn the history of Ft. Bend Co. is at John Walker’s web site

http://www.lifeonthebrazosriver.com

His email address is john@cryptoheaven.com

WHO IS JESUS?

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. All things were made by him and without him was not anything made that was made.

The Word was made flesh and lived among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Emmanuel! God with us.

Call his name Jesus for He shall save his people from their sin. In him was life and the life was the light of men. He was in the world and the world was made by him, but the world did not receive Him. As many as did receive Him, He gave the right to become the children of God, even to them that believe on His name.

He is the Bread of Life, the Light of the World, the Good Shepherd, the Savior, the Way, the Truth, the Life, the King of kings, the only begotten Son of God.

Nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord: neither death, nor life, nor things to come.

Taken from John 1:1-14, Matthew 1:21, John 10:11, John 14:6, Romans 8: 31.

Water Board Meets 6pm Third Thursday

Their website is Fort Bend Fresh Water Dist 1. Click on the News tab for Water District Application Documents in connection with the Teleview Terrace Subdivision. Click the Map of District tab for the current water and wastewater projects, as well as estimated construction timelines.

Teleview Terrace is taking bids to hook up homes.

Democrat and Republican Primary

Election Day March 1st. Early voting Feb 16—Feb 26th. To find out any information you need in Harris County call County Clerk Stan Stanart at 713 755 6965 or if you live in Fort Bend County call the Elections Administrator at 281 341 8670.

Great, great grandpa Benjamin Canby Birdsall was buried in the Almeda Cemetery in 1898. Learn the

history and get a copy of Back Yonder in Almeda. The book contains information gathered from court house records and stories from the earliest settlers in the little prairie town 11 miles from Houston city limits.

Joe is ticked off after losing $1000, but he figures out how he can get it back. A week later he tells Dr. Moe, "My eyesight has become weak --- I can hardly see anything!” Dr. Moe shakes his head, "Well, I don't have any medicine for that so, here's your $1000, and gives him a $10 bill.” Joe exclaims, But this is only $10!" "Congratulations!” You got your vision back! That will be $500,"replied Dr. Moe.

Condolences

Harvey Onishi passed away on Dec. 4, 2015. Born in 1941, Harvey grew up on a truck farm on Almeda Genoa Rd. Many of his Almeda school mates would earn money at his family’s farm picking tomatoes and other vegetables along with Harvey.

Leroy H. Hlinsky , age 89, a resident of Arcola for 55 years, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home on December 1, 2015. Leroy was born June 26, 1926, in Ellinger, Texas. He served in the United States Army 1944-1946 in the Philippines. A retired truck driver, Leroy was a long time member and volunteer of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manvel. He enjoyed listening to polka music and was proud of his Czech heritage. Leroy was preceded in death by his parents; sister Evelyn Girdnt and husband, Robie, and brother-in-law Albert Prasifka. Leroy is survived by his wife, Honora of Rosharon; three daughters; Linda/Kenneth Guin of Natchitoches, Louisiana, Brenda/William Gaidosek of Sulphur, Louisiana, and Annette/Alfonzo Hernandez of Sugar Land, Texas; one son, Richard/Diedra Hlinsky of New Braunfels, Texas, 11 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, and sister Ruby Prasifka of Columbus, Texas.

Kristie Gail McDougald, age 58, unexpectedly passed away Wednesday January 6th at Methodist Hospital. Kristie was born in Richmond, Virginia on October 26, 1957 and moved to the Houston area in 1980. She is survived by her mother Carol Hammack; brother James Mitchell (Jimbo); sister Lou Ann Helms; daughter Beau Watson and husband Quincy Watson; nephew Chase Helms and wife Crystal Helms; grandchildren Brendon, Kaley, Wyatt, Hayden; and great nieces Bre’Aunna and Kinzley. Funeral Services were held at South Park Funeral Home in Pearland Texas. on January 11, 2016.

BACK ISSUES OF OUR NEWS ARE AVAILABLE FOR A PRICE.

Call 713 433 1098

The challenge in the December issue was how can you plant five rows of trees with four trees in each row if you only have ten trees? Charlie Gertson emailed the answer: 5 pointed star, one tree at each point, then one tree at each intersecting point. Charlie is the grandson of Donald and Doris Gertson. Donald who lived in Almeda passed away about 10 years ago. “My father is Skipper Gertson, We have lived in the Arcola area since before I was born. I'll be 37 the end of this month. We've seen Arcola come up along with the surrounding area (Sienna Plantation). My kids go to school where the cattle pens used to be, when I was 7 or 8 years old we helped work the cattle there,” says Charlie.

About Me

I was born in Almeda where my grandparents and some great grandparents settled. I started writing a history of the area for the South Post Oak Press and then decided I could write my own paper in 1994 after I had written a book, Back Yonder In Almeda. Then my son, James fixed me up with a blog so I could put Our News on the web.
Our News now reaches down to Fresno and Arcola.